Inspired by the principles of divine love and unity of being, Islamic mysticism and Hinduism are both intended to invoke a direct experience of the divine. Two world-class artists will share the stage in this unusual and exciting convergence of ancient and enduring traditions.

A. J. Racy and the Mystical Legacies Ensemble will offer music of the Middle East featuring instrumental works by Dr. Racy--a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and UCLA ethnomusicologist—and improvisations by the ensemble. The musical content derives from classical Ottoman Sufi traditions, and will be played on the oud  (short-necked lute); buzuq (long-necked lute); nay, a reed-flute associated with the Mevlevi order of Sufis, founded by Rumi; and the salamiyyah (Egyptian reed-flute), with a duet between Racy, on the Arab nay, and guest artist Michael Perricone on the Tibetan bowls.

A luminous dancer, artistically ambitious and rigorously exacting in her technical prowess, Mythili Prakash studied bharatanatyam with her guru, Viji Prakash—a great exponent of this cultural treasure, who is also Mythili’s mother. The young acolyte has already attained an international reputation for the creativity she brings to her exploration of this 2000-year-old temple ritual improvising narrative aspects of this form through mudras, facial expression and refined movements that shifts from the literal to the metaphoric. Accompanied by six masterful musicians, Prakash is joined by the Shakti Dance Company.